Anesthesia

Description of the Procedure

To prepare you for surgery, an IV will be placed in your arm. You may receive fluids and medications through the IV during the procedure. A breathing tube will be placed through your mouth and into your throat. This will help you breathe during surgery. You will also have a catheter placed in your bladder to drain urine.

An 8-10 inch incision will be made to open the abdomen. Surgical staples will be used to divide your stomach into two unequal portions. The upper portion will be a small pouch. It will empty through a tiny opening into the lower portion. The small pouch can hold only ½ to 1 cup of soft, moist, and well-chewed food. A normal stomach can hold 4-6 cups.

Next, a plastic band will be wrapped around the tiny opening. This will prevent it from stretching. This band can be adjusted after surgery. The incisions will then be closed with staples or stitches.

Immediately After Procedure

The breathing tube will be removed. You will be taken to the recovery area.

How Long Will It Take?

About 2 hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

You will be in the hospital for 2-5 days. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.

Postoperative Care

At the Hospital

While you are recovering at the hospital, you may receive the following care:

Pain medication will be given as needed.

Your diet:

Day of surgery—You will not eat or drink anything.

Day after surgery—You will likely have an
x-ray
to check for leaks from the stomach pouch. You will drink a special liquid while x-rays are taken.

If this x-ray is normal, you will be given 30 milliliters (mL) of liquids every 20 minutes.

If leaks are found, you will receive nutrition through an IV until the leaks are fixed.

On the second day after surgery—You will have1-2 tablespoons of pureed food or 1-2 ounces of liquids every 20 minutes.

You may be asked to do the following:

Use an
incentive spirometer
to take deep breaths every hour to prevent breathing problems.

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection, such as:

Washing their hands

Wearing gloves or masks

Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chance of infection, such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and healthcare providers to do the same

Reminding your healthcare providers to wear gloves or masks

Not allowing others to touch your incision

At Home

You will need to practice lifelong healthy eating and exercising habits. After your surgery:

Do not lift anything heavy for at least 2 weeks.

You may have emotional changes after this surgery. Your may be referred to a therapist.

Your new stomach is the size of a small egg. It is slow to empty. This will make you feel full quickly. Nutritional steps include:

You need to eat very small amounts and eat very slowly.

You will begin with 4-6 small meals per day. A meal is two ounces of food.

For the first 4-6 weeks after surgery, all food must be pureed.

When you move to solid foods, food must be well chewed.

When making food choices, ensure that you are getting enough protein.

Eating too much or too quickly can cause vomiting or intense pain under your breastbone. Most people quickly learn how much food they can eat.

This procedure does not cause nausea and
diarrhea
if sweet or fatty foods are eaten. In fact, some people gain back weight because they continue to consume high-calorie foods. To promote ongoing weight loss, avoid high-calorie foods.

Be sure to follow your doctor’s
instructions.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if any of these occur:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site

References

Bariatric surgery for severe obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at:
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gastric.htm. Updated June 2011. Accessed December 4, 2014.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.